Report Card Time - AK's Final Grades
As we prepare to shift into it's the off-season, there isn't nearly as much to talk about, plus the Times isn't paying us our full rate while the team's on hiatus, so we're gonna start posting a little less mode, I wanted to add at least one more entry that provides closure of sorts. And few things in life provide closure like a final report card. They pretty much left no ambiguity when it came to summing up how mediocre I did in high school. Anyhoo, grades were once again assessed, along with the usual peanut gallery remarks. And I'm sure BK will chime in with his two cents soon enough.
If you want to reference the first half report card, here it is.
Kwame Brown: Things started clicking more after the switch to center. Kwame's already strong post D was accentuated by increased offensive confidence, culminating in a 12.8 ppg April. I personally enjoyed watching this coincide with his increased confidence dealing with the media. (Before improving, I used to joke with a Lakers P.R. rep that Kwame must tunnel out of Staples, since nobody ever saw him after games.) That said, dude still reeks of "project." Among many things, he rebounds inconsistently, catches like he's wearing oven mitts, and I've never seen a 6'11" player less likely to hit a layup. I also question his basketball I.Q. The off-season work will be crucial. He said it during his exit interview: No mas excuses. I asked Kwame once if he felt any pressure to prove himself worthy of No. 1 overall status. He shook his head, more or less saying, "It is what it is." He just wants to play well. Smart attitude. We'll see what happens.
First Half Grade: C-
Second Half Grade: B
Final Grade: C+
Kobe Bryant: It's borderline impossible to single out one highlight from such an array of sick accomplishments. But for my money, Kobe truly took things to another level during the playoffs. He remained deadly as ever (two clutch shots in Game 4 alone), but instilled confidence in his teammates by lending them unconditional trust and unlimited chances. Knowing that a player of godlike status (on and off the court) believed in them brought out the best in Kobe's supporting cast. The end results weren't quite perfect, but the bigger picture is fantastic. If this was a preview of Kobe's leadership to come, nutty as this may sound, the guy's best years have yet to arrive.
First Half Grade: A
Second Half Grade: A
Final Grade: A
Andrew Bynum: After the All-Star break, Big Baby more or less sported diapers. He played in only 15 games, mostly garbage time (although I'm pretty sure he once secured tacos with a rebound). The pine banishment was understandable, since growing pains become a pain in the ass while chasing a playoff spot. But I like his potential. A lot. The look on Kareem's face while interviewing him about Socks made me think Cap wasn't just blowing smoke about Bynum's work ethic, desire to learn, and instincts. Kid needs to hit the weights, work on finishing, and up his game knowledge in general. Like Kwame, he's a project. But one I feel more confident about.
First Half Grade: B
Second Half Grade: D+/Incomplete
Final Grade: C/Incomplete
Brian Cook: I'll begin with a positive. Save Kobe (or Von Wafer), no Laker waffles less when handed the rock. Cook chucks like he's paid by the catch 'n' shoot. Unfortunately, that basically describes Cook's contract, since it's more or less all he does. That he lost a starting job to an out-of-position Luke Walton doesn't speak well of Cook's D (Luke may be better, but he's no Ben Wallace) or post up game (Luke may be better, but he's no Rasheed Wallace). I held out hope for a stronger second half, but like my hopes for "Manu Girl" to knock on my door, it didn't happen.
First Half Grade: C+
Second Half Grade: D
Final Grade: C-
Devean George: Devean's a nice guy whom I've actively rooted to finally reach his potential since he was a rookie (if for no other reason than to shut up my wise ass friends). I've heard and read enough to support my theory that Devean's past inconsistency was due to a paper-thin confidence. Well, he's now playing with confidence and remains inconsistent as ever. Take the playoffs. He supplied either huge clutch shots or nada. I guess it's just who he is. He certainly doesn't hurt you when he's on the floor, but I doubt he'll ever help as much as he seemed capable.
First Half Grade: C+
Second Half Grade: C-
Final Grade: C
Devin Green: Geez, how to evaluate Green's 15 total minutes of post All-Star Break PT? I could harp on his 0-2 performance in 120 seconds against the Clips on Feb. 24. But you'll naturally counter that I'm ignoring how he recovered on Feb. 28 against Orlando, going 1-2 in 180 seconds. And really, who's to say which performance should count more? All kidding aside, I've heard that the brass likes "the other Dev," and Phil certainly could use a tall guard with decent speed. If I had to bet on which player with "D.G." initials will be back next season, it's this one.
First Half Grade: D/Incomplete
Second Half Grade: F/Incomplete
Final Grade: D-/Incomplete
Jim Jackson: Let's see. The Lakers needed a late addition free agent who can hit an outside shot, provide veteran presence to a young second unit and allow Kobe a little extra rest. I can totally see why JJ never stepped on the court. His acquisition and subsequent DNP-CD parade gets my nod for the season's "biggest head-scratcher" award.
Second Half/Final Grade: D-/Incomplete
Aaron McKie: I'll be blunt. McKie did dookie this season. I understand he was way behind the eight-ball after being injured for so long. But he didn't even represent at the Casino Night poker tourney, where he's more than capable of contributing. Disappointing, indeed.
First Half Grade: F/Incomplete
Second Half Grade: F/Incomplete
Final Grade: F/Incomplete
Stanislav Medvedenko: I already poured out some malt liquor for my boy. I only wish we got to see Slava guard Nash just once during any of those zillion playoff switches gone bad. Potential comedy for the ages.
First Half Grade: F/Incomplete
Second Half Grade: N/A
Final Grade: F/Inc./N/A
Chris Mihm: While his injury did provide untapped insight into Kwame's potential at the 5, it's a shame Mihm spent most of March and April crutching around. Even if you prefer Kwame's post D over Mihm's more polished offense, the Lakers needed some of the latter when it came to pounding the ball inside against Phoenix. Mihm spent the first half of the season as the most consistent source of interior scoring. Think that could have come in handy during Game 7?
First Half Grade: B
Second Half Grade: Incomplete
Final Grade B/Incomplete
Lamar Odom: What a difference a second half makes. LO went from more erratic than Courtney Love on a coke binge to a freakin' Swiss watch, both in production and triangle quarterbacking. During March and April, he put up approximately 17, 9 and 6 (plus back-to-back trip-dubs). Those are borderline All-Star numbers. And he was a beast for most of the playoffs. Yeah, he picked a bad time to crap out in Game 7. But if March-May was more than just an oasis, Kobe and Lamar could very well be built around, should Mitch and Phil commit to that route.
First Half Grade: B
Second Half Grade: A
Final Grade: A-
Smush Parker: He may end up in a rubber room from Games 5 through 7 induced trauma, but Smush actually finished the regular season strong. Yeah, he was physically/mentally worthless down the postseason stretch. But under ideal circumstances, Smush is a second-string PG. 82 games guarding better players (followed by a back-to-back MVP in the playoffs) caught up to him. I'm not sugarcoating things. Smush has a lot to work on, especially defensively. But to judge him as you'd judge Steve Nash because they're both starters is unrealistic. Put it this way: If told in mid-October that Smush would average 11 ppg and almost two steals, would you have been mad? Doubt it.
First Half Grade: B
Second Half Grade: C
Final Grade: C+
Ronny Turiaf: The most entertaining Laker to ever man a sideline, Turiaf wasn't too bad in limited minutes either. He's a turnover waiting to happen, but he also picked up the triangle very quickly. Gee, a four-year-college guy with a high aptitude? Go figure. He also provided great energy and hustle. Were Turiaf a little more polished offensively, he may have had a shot at replacing Cook at the 4. Or stealing the lion's share of Cook's remaining minutes, if nothing else.
First Half Grade: Incomplete
Second Half Grade: B-
Final Grade: Inc./B-
Sasha Vujacic: In the first-half report card, I said that I wasn't sure what to make of Sasha. I've since made up my mind. I don't think he's very good. He has a fantastic looking stroke but mostly misses, a big problem since a) he's supposedly a shooter and b) he's not good taking it to the rack. He's too slow to guard 1's, but not big enough to guard 2's. His oft-championed ability to "annoy" ball handlers is overstated and overrated. For every one possession the skill comes in handy, he gets used the next nine. I will say this: He has a lot of confidence, which I hope he never loses. It's easily his biggest asset.
First Half Grade: C
Second Half Grade: D+
Final Grade: C-
Von Wafer: A legend. So out of control, he makes practice entertaining. I once caught the tail end of an El Segundo session where every vet, B. Shaw and PJ would alternately remind Von to pass the ball on about five straight possessions. That's gold. Yes, him playing meaningful minutes would result in nothing short of Armageddon. But when he's your sixth string shooting guard? Outstanding!
First Half Grade: D/Incomplete
Second Half Grade: F/Incomplete
Final Grade: D-/Incomplete
Luke Walton: I gotta give Billy's Boy some serious props. I had pretty much written the guy off when he suddenly remembered how to play. Being handed the starting four spot came more from Cook not cutting it than PJ having some kind of hunch, but Luuuuuke did a very goooood job, including a few terrific playoff games. Walton also displayed spurts of athleticism that I never dreamed he possessed, especially with the flagrant on Tim Thomas. I had no idea he could get up that high.
First Half Grade: D+
Second Half Grade: B+
Final Grade: C+
—AK
Thanks Professor AK.
Posted by: Michigan's only True Laker fan | May 22, 2006 at 10:04 AM
Very nice analysis.
I appreciate that you didn't go soft and hand Kwame an A for his second half since the majority of the people on this blog will want to do that, highlighting his Wilt-like numbers of 12 and 8 and 0.6 blocks per game.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 22, 2006 at 10:13 AM
in as much as your results were pretty accurate, they were very hilarious too. the von wafer piece, lol! i think if devin can work on his offense, coupled with some confidence, he could be a good guard for the triangle, atleast he got defense. you can tell the kid can play, he is just not comfortable yet. this summer should prove productive for the lakers' young'ns. another thing i love is, the lakers owning a an nbdl team, were they can nurture players in their system, so when they get invited, they already know what to do.
Posted by: emman | May 22, 2006 at 10:24 AM
I would have to agree about Luke and his timing. "Cookie" wouldn't step out on the pick and roll. At least Luke is willing to jump out and get back to his man.
AK, Luke has some b-ball IQ, which makes it impossible to underestimate him. I love the short/midrange game which no other current Laker has, sans Kobe. The past two years we’ve seen Kobe run his offense or they settle for the 3 point shot. Lamar provides dribble drive skills, however the rest of the Lakers don’t seem willing to take anyone off the dribble or get their own shots. SuperLuke is filling the void of getting the short rebounds from guys like LO, Kwame, Mihm, and actually doing something with them. Not just taking a shot. He can pass in traffic.
With that in mind, I have to upgrade him to a B-. MHO
Posted by: Maleke | May 22, 2006 at 10:27 AM
AK,
how dare you give kwame a grade lower than mihm's, lol! you would have to answer to MICHAEL T! let's wait for mike t. i would be glad if mike t. dissappoints me, by agreeing the assessments were fairly accurate. Ak, you are right on the money with this one.
Posted by: emman | May 22, 2006 at 10:29 AM
You guys really need to switch this blog off soon. Take down the link so I stop wasting my time on here. Offseason is where I usually catch up with my work, if you guys keep this up, I'll be following the lakers in July, damn it. I swear I'll sue if I lose my job, seriously I will.
Having said that, great post...lol. One thing that i've been curious about is Bynum. He seems to be regarded highly even though he hasn't seen much playing time. I know the dude is just 18 but wasn't Dwight Howard producing from day 1. Not sure where Bynums 1st half B came from, probably the same place Ronny's second half B- came from. I love Ronny's attitude but there's nothing in the numbers for both of these guys that suggest they merit more than Ds.
Posted by: Taliq | May 22, 2006 at 10:38 AM
OK AK,
Ain't it funny what a great career a mediocre high school report card can turn into? There you are, hangin' with the Lakes givin' the thumbs up and down to a worldwide audience hi fivin' your choices. How do ya like me now, mom?
Nothing to argue with, although someone will think of something.
I'm concluding that Phil would get an A considering the C average players he had to deal with?
Posted by: Vman | May 22, 2006 at 10:43 AM
AK,
Great job the entire season. I've really enjoyed the blog. Keep up the good work.
Laker Seth
Posted by: Laker Seth | May 22, 2006 at 10:51 AM
taliq wasnt howard 20 on day 1.(1 pick not 10 aged 17 or second round aged 21)
and they are rookies in a PJ team so its the limited time and the potential and they used their limited time in a great way. and they have specially drew lots of potential.
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 10:53 AM
I can understand where you coming from in regards to Sasha... I know I spent most of the season wondering why he tossed up so many bricks - but he did come through with some great shooting in the playoffs.
Posted by: R. Kimble | May 22, 2006 at 10:58 AM
And I love this blog... thanks for the great entertainment.
Posted by: R. Kimble | May 22, 2006 at 10:59 AM
Taliq,
Dwight Howard is incredible, with amazing amounts of potential and a skill set (and body) that's developed beyond his years. I never put Bynum in the same category as Howard when discussing potential. Howard is an absolutel franchise guy, where Bynum doesn't look like that. I don't think Bynum is one of those "special" players where you know right off the bat how great they are going to be (i.e. Howard, Lebron, KG, Kobe). Those were guys out of high school where you didn't think "project" you thought "superstar given some time". In my mind it's a big difference.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 22, 2006 at 11:02 AM
I think everyone should know that if a rookie was good enough to get a lot of playing time or start, Phil Jackson would definitely do it rather than sit them because they are rookies. Let's not forget that every team he has coached has been really good and therefore only had late first round draft picks (rookies) which usually don't play much on any good team. Andrew Bynum might be the highest draft pick Phil ever coach and there's a good chance I've played more organized ball than he has.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 22, 2006 at 11:22 AM
Andrew Z
Yeah, there it is. You know it when you see it. We've been back and forth all year about Kwame and Bynum morphing into "special" but superstars don't become, they are.
It's a struggle for guys to raise their free throw percentage 5 points over a career, becoming great from OK is probably not going to happen. If LO raises his game a couple notches, he's an all star, but he started with "wow 6'10 with ball handling skills, a great first step, long and athletic and can pass".
Systems can change players. They can flourish in one and maybe not the other, but for the most part, the guys you mentioned were no brainer, no questions asked, franchise players even when they weren't. Bynum will get better, and so will the Kwam but the bar for "special" is as high as it gets in this franchise.
Posted by: Vman | May 22, 2006 at 11:31 AM
andren Z
well he didnt play JJ and mickie .
hmm and he dint play all other players. he played D george,mihm,kwame brown,kobe,cook,odom,smush,sasha,Bynum ands turiaf.
so .. not much rotation.
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Vman,
Yeah, my take is if you've been in the league four or more years and you're still developing, you're probably not going to become a franchise guy. I think Odom could be a perenial All-Star, but at this point can we expect him to reach that 20 and 10 level and stay there? Does anyone actually think Kwame can turn into a 15 and 11 guy? Does he have that inside him? I don't think so. There are some guys that are born with that special quality and those are the guys you build a franchise around. Obviously there aren't that many around, only a handful, which is why I am strongly in favor of giving up everyone not named Kobe for KG (a package Minnesota would laugh at by the way), because KG is one of those guys and you never pass up an opportunity to add one to your team. Period.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 22, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Hey guys, thanks for the nice words. I appreciate it.
Maleke,
I agree, Walton does have a high good hoops I.Q., but during that first half, it just wasn't coming through. He made a lot of silly mistakes and played pretty badly. I was concerned that he might not have the physical tools to back up his mental ones. If the second half of the season is a true indication, he proved me wrong. I talked to Luke a couple times after things started picking up and he admitted that he was way inside his own head, trying much too hard to do too much. Once he stopped overthinking everything and just played, it all started clicking again.
Taliq,
Turiaf's actual play probably merited around a C, but once you factor in that spastic sideline dancing (which I often got to see live), extra credit starts applying. haha. Plus, he actually did have a couple nice playoff games.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 22, 2006 at 11:41 AM
Regardless of the expectation of not even making the playoffs, (but they did and was up 3-1)it hurts to watch the Suns even play another game in the playoffs. Overall, despite of the loss, the Lakers (mainly Kobe) amazed me in that series. To be change their game plan to beat the Suns 3 in a row, that was unexpected. It sure got us all excited though.
Lakers: 1st half: C+: learning process.
2nd Half: B+
Playoffs: A-
Posted by: willn2win | May 22, 2006 at 11:42 AM
andrew Z .
they did mention that they didnt want to play him to soon coz they want to build up his confidence and his tutalege.plus we have 2 centersand a third if needed in turiaf.
and u said players come like superstars and then they make it .
well how about j oneil or arenas or rasheed.did they come whith all star or superstar inscripted on them. i wouldnt say that.
again i say if he wasnt that good they wouldnt bee so happy by him and other teams wouldnt be so intrested and his body he is 18 so he will grow then muscle up and he has exeptianally long arms .
howard is a monster but chanberalin and russel didnt not have that kind of bodies but kwame and B wallace did , hmmm?
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 11:52 AM
By the way at 11ppg and costing us $790k next year. Smush seems to be our best player in terms of points per millions earned. Daresay he's the best bargain in the entire league, using this metric. I say we up his grade to a B+...lol.
Also here's another grade for the laker team. Comes out to a 'C'...seems consistent with average of AKs grade.
http://nbadraft.net/2006stateofthecaplalakers001.asp
Posted by: Taliq | May 22, 2006 at 11:58 AM
purple and gold,
I thought Phil used a good rotation, about average number of players for a good team.
Rasheed Wallace was a lottery pick, I believe #4 overall, so yes he did come in touted as a future all-star. I agree J O'Neal and Arenas came in with less fan fare, but I don't think any team built around either one as their "franchise" guy will ever win a title. I'm not saying Bynum couldn't develop into an All-Star someday, especially with the lack of true centers in today's game, but I honestly believe that he is not a franchise guy or will ever be considered one of the top players in the league. Just my opinion.
Also, I'm not sure I have read the reports where other teams are so interested in Andrew Bynum, maybe I missed those.
As for body styles, it's tough to say that Wilt Chamberlin wasn't built. Dude was pretty physically impressive. I mentioned Dwight Howard because his body is developed beyond his 20 years but more importantly his coordination and skill are incredible. I think when you see Andrew Bynum you see a kid who is still getting used to his size. He's a bit uncoordinated. But I have to say, for someone who grew a couple inches this year and is 7'1", he's got great footwork and hands, which are a good sign.
My main point I guess is that I like Bynum, I just don't think he's got "franchise" potential.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 22, 2006 at 12:05 PM
Taliq
Hello, now there's a stat that should have figured into the report card. How good for the money? Big issue. I'd give him a B+ too, but then I'd bench him for a vet that won't disappear.
I'd downgrade the Kwam to C and maybe LO to B+ considering the salary but the rest didn't do enough or make enough to make a difference.
Posted by: Vman | May 22, 2006 at 12:13 PM
AK,
I agree with all grades except Chris Mihms. because of his lack of defence. I would have given him a C+. Also, What was Phil's grade? And why didn't he play Jim Jackson?
Posted by: M&M | May 22, 2006 at 12:14 PM
Strengths: A HUGE physical presence. Andrew is the biggest and strongest high school center to arrive in some time. Bynum is a legit 7 footer with great mobility. Offensively Bynum has a small but solid set of post moves, including a very effective baby hook. He is very good at backing down players into the low post and ending with a slam or short hook…Defensively, Bynum is a load in the paint. Although not a prolific shot blocker, Bynum is adept at altering shots and forcing teams to shoot the outside shot. However, he is yet to face a player his size, so his one on one defense has not been truly tested…With time he should develop into an excellent shot blocker…The thing to remember here is that players with his size and mobility are a rarity.
Weaknesses: Raw is the word. While he has been productive in high school, the NBA is a different world. He will be facing players his size on a regular basis. Offensively, his footwork needs much tooling…he rarely shoots the ball outside of the paint. His size won't allow him to dominate like he did in HS. He could really use a small set jumper or another post move. In addition his passing out of the post is very poor and his understanding of defenses is an area of need...Defensively, he needs to move his feet more and become more active. As a rebounder he needs to learn to get in proper position and not rely on his size and athleticism. Additionally, he must stop picking up silly fouls, especially on the offensive end…Lastly, there have been concerns about his weight and conditioning.
Notes: Bynum is a physical marvel…If he works at his game, he could really become a special player.
this is an articale and if u see the waknesses u will know that the cap talked about them and will solve them.
ps:a couple of us love big baby and i wont rest until most of u will.
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 12:18 PM
AK,
GRADES: I agree with most of the grades, but I think Devean George and Sasha kind of got the short end of the stick. Both of them are more consistent jump shooters than every Laker except Kobe and Brian Cook. While in the grand scheme of shooters they may not be great, but the Lakers need to get more guys that can shoot on atleast this level to be productive. Kobe and Lamar can only do so much. I'm kind of worried because the writing is on the wall for Devean, he's pretty much gone, but without him we may not have any perimeter shooters left.
ON ANOTHER NOTE: I was kind of puzzled about the Jumaine Jones trade at the beginning of the season. He would fit in with George and Vujacic for outside shooting and his athleticism and rebounding would have helped out against the Suns. The Lakers didn't really get much in return for him either.
Posted by: Rubin | May 22, 2006 at 12:39 PM
that von wafer analysis was just classic stuff. made my day. still laughing at it.
Posted by: jack bauer | May 22, 2006 at 12:47 PM
Rubin,
Considering that Sasha and Devean have the lowest FG% of anyone in the rotation (For a guy often labeled a "pure shooter," Sasha's not even connecting at 35%), I have to disagree with you on that one.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 22, 2006 at 12:52 PM
"Bynum is a physical marvel"
That is an exaggeration. (Unless you are comparing him to the general population.) He doesn't have exceptional physical ability for someone at this leval (including college here) of play. He is still somewhat awkward. If he were a physical marvel that would have shown during his brief moments of playing time. Don't let his one good moment (which caught Shaq by surprise) get blown out of proportion. What he has is potential.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | May 22, 2006 at 12:55 PM
AK,
Very nice assessments of each player, I agree with you on the grades, well except Smush and Sasha, but as you know I like Sasha and dislike Smush very much.
Posted by: lakofan | May 22, 2006 at 12:58 PM
purple and gold (feel like i'm addressing the entire laker nation...lol ),
Using a league start date of Oct 1st
Dwight Howard was 18yrs 10months when he came into the league...he averaged 33mins/12pts/10rbds/1.7blks
in his second year (this one) he averaged 37mins/16pts/13rbds/1.4blk
Bynum in his rookie season
17yrs 11months
8mins/2pts/2rpg/0.5blks
Umm, granted Bynum is a year younger than Howard. But now he's got a year of nba experience under his belt. Do we really expect him to produce the same numbers (next season/season after ) as Howard did in his rookie season. Really I've got nothing against Bynum, just wondering where all the optimism is coming from besides practice. Did he play in the summer leagues, did he have a great outing. Give me something people.
My reaction to all this great talk about bynum can be summed up by this quote from nbadraft.net
http://nbadraft.net/profiles/andrewbynum.asp
Notes: Bynum is a physical marvel…If he works at his game, he could really become a special player. However, this same type of talk was also said of DeSagana Diop
Posted by: Taliq | May 22, 2006 at 12:58 PM
Taliq,
No doubt, in terms of salary to production, Smush is an absolute steal. That may not make him "good enough," in and of itself, but there are guys making way more than him and doing a lot less on the court.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 22, 2006 at 01:00 PM
This article is for all the Steve's and Jon's out there. It just goes to show how hypocritical people are when it comes to the great Kobe Bryant.
Double Standard Now Standard For Kobe And LeBron
Kobe Bryant, in the second half of Game 7 against the Suns, plays passively and is roundly criticized for either quitting or making a statement or both.
LeBron James, in the second half of Game 7 against the Pistons, has an almost identical performance and the closest anyone comes to asking what happened is my colleague Chris Sheridan, relaying to LeBron that Coach Mike Brown suggested he was tired. Which James quickly and firmly denied.
So. If there was ever a blatant demonstration of the double standard when it comes to judging Kobe vs. LeBron -- or just about anybody else -- this is it.
When Kobe took only three second-half shots vs. the Suns, all the questions were directed at him: Why did he do that? What was said at halftime? What was he trying to prove?
If you don't buy that he needed his teammates to trim Phoenix' lead to single digits before he could take over, fine. If you think after his 23-point first half he should've started firing at every opportunity and that that would've somehow inspired his teammates to play the kind of staunch defense they couldn't muster in the first half while getting touches, OK.
But then you have to ask the same questions of James and the Cavaliers.
After all, he had 21 first-half points while taking only four jumpers (missing three) on 10-of-15 shooting and Detroit led by a mere two points. Sure, James took nine shots in the second half, three times more than Kobe. But he made only one and seven of them were jumpers. Moreover, the Pistons didn't do anything more defensively than have Tayshaun Prince guard him rather than Rip Hamilton, but the only reason Hamilton was on him in the first place is that LeBron had tortured Prince earlier in the series.
Now, granted, Cavs coach Brown did Detroit a huge favor by playing Larry Hughes 26 minutes and putting him in the middle of the floor rather than LeBron during that time. Hughes simply couldn't create the chances for himself or his teammates that LeBron could.
Hughes' stat line didn't look bad, but this is all you need to know: He played in three games in this series, all of them losses, two of them blowouts. Cleveland, conversely, won three of the four games he didn't play, all of them going down to the wire.
Meanwhile, having James attack from the wing also allowed the Pistons to corral him more easily by forcing him to the baseline.
Look, I understand why Kobe is guilty until proven innocent and the judge and jury are making goo-goo eyes at LeBron. Kobe has made his share of publicity blunders while the closest LeBron has come to offending anyone was having a suspicously financed chromed-out Hummer in high school. It can be hard to like Kobe, while LeBron makes it easy. I truly get that.
I'm also not here to denigrate James' effort or performance. There's never been anyone in NBA history who has had his combination of size (6-8, 250) and speed (f-f-f-fast enough to turn the corner on anyone), and he has an amazingly mature game for someone 21 years old.
He made his share of tactical blunders and bad decisions in this series, but that's no surprise; I wouldn't expect him to understand the game the way Kobe or Tim Duncan or Steve Nash do. He is going to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time and I can't imagine how amazing he will be once his mental game catches up with his physical talents.
All I'm saying is, that their personalities and Q ratings shouldn't have anything to do with how their performances as NBA players -- nay, superstars -- are judged. And based on how similar their playoff exits were, and how dramatically different they were treated, that's clearly not the case.
Posted by: Tami | May 22, 2006 at 01:02 PM
AK,
So you don't do this out of pure love for the Lakers? hahaha
If you don't get paid you don't write? I thought you were a true Laker fan, hahaha. Just Joking!
Posted by: lakofan | May 22, 2006 at 01:04 PM
AK got it right on McKie. Almost.
F is close but I would definitely downgrade him to F- considering his salary. He's getting mid level? He's the only fringe player that Kupchak mentioned as a keeper?
With all the HOF vets we've got hangin' out, do we really need Aaron to school the kids? If so and if it is mid level, that's 5mil. D Fish gets 6.
A mil luxury tax for Fish is worth every cent. He's not the answer at the point but I'd rather look down the bench and see him than Aaron for the 2nd quarter minutes. All Laker fans in favor of D Fish??? I think it's unanimous.
Posted by: Vman | May 22, 2006 at 01:07 PM
AK,
We definitely need better shooters. Here are some Lakers 3P% averages for the season:
Brian Cook: .429
Lamar Odom: .372
Smush Parker: .366
Kobe Bryant: .347
Sasha Vujacic: .343
Luke Walton: .327
Devean George: .313
Alright. Well, you've definitely made your point about Devean George. The fact that LO and Cook are our top 3P shooters is alarming. Who's getting the rebound? I think Luke can't shoot any better than he shot during the playoffs against smaller guys.
Sasha shoots at a nice 3P% close to Kobe. Smush and Sasha don't play at the same time too often so one has to come off the bench and shoot. But it is nice that neither has to worry about creating other peoples shots.
Posted by: Rubin | May 22, 2006 at 01:08 PM
YOU ALL NEED TO LISTEN TO PURPLE AND GOLD!!!!!!
. you are dead on the money. someone compared bynum to howard, first of all, howard is 21, came in the league as a physical specimen, he still is 6'10, hasn't grown an inch in two years.(he claims he might be a little shorter, cos turkgolu is taller than he is), bynum on the other hand just turned 18, grew an extra inch in less than a year, now 7"1. howard, amare, and lebron are freaks of nature. bynum is your definition of a kid, he is big but not strong. this kid would never be a bust, in 5 years he would be 23yrs. what people don't understand is, once you are a 7 footer, it is hard to be athletic. i'm 6"9, so i know what i'm talking about. the people who talk about him, see him in practice everyday, we don't, so if they say watch out, believe. he is a shot blocker, but not smart enuff yet, as he would accrue fouls from his inexperience. with time, he would be something to reckon with, but i would trade if and only if it would bring in someone to take us to another level, other than that, he is our future. when kobe came in to the league, ofcourse he was captivating, before being drafted he was thought of as a future allstar, not a franchise player(that's why he was traded for divac). give this kid time. look at millicic, he was drafted high, they regarded him a bust in detroit, now he is hot again, and everyone is inquiring about him, and orlando say he is untouchable. only time would tell, we can only assume.
Posted by: emman | May 22, 2006 at 01:11 PM
EXHELODRVR!
i agree with purple, that bynum is a physical marvel. how tall are you? once you 6'9 and above, it is hard to be athletic, you will not know that if are not that tall. most seven footers don't play sports fyi. think about it, how many 7 footers in the league can you call a star, compare that to a 6"6 player. if he was in college, probably come off the bench for some teams, everything right now is based on potentials. if the lakers wanted a ready made player, they would have traded their pick last year. so give the kid a break.
Posted by: emman | May 22, 2006 at 01:19 PM
thanks for the props emman.
talik one thing muist be understood,bynum like kobe came in a team where he was another rookie ,AI the king jordan howard shaq all came as the franchise player when they were rookies.the stats will differ and howard was here last year and now he is 21 so how could he have been 18.plus in his first season kobe had a vary bad average they develop .whith his size and hands bynum at worst is good shot blocker(now he is a good shot blocker)
and at best well whith his size the sky is the limit.and anoher thing about the diop thing well diop wasnt tutored bu Cap didnt have the work ethic and wasnt around players like kobe or coache PJ.
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 01:25 PM
EXHELODRVR!
i copy pasted the articale to proove a point its an experts opinion not just mine so ask him to give u a break wise boy.
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 01:30 PM
Very good grades AK. Very reliable and realistic. To be expected from a person such as you. Keep up the good work. Though maybe Kobe could have at least gotten that "+"?
Posted by: arthas (Tom Brady) | May 22, 2006 at 01:31 PM
emman,
Amare Stoudamire, KG, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlin, Shaquille O'Neal...how many other people do you want me to list over 6'9" that are athletic?
I also believe that saying Bynum is a "physical marvel" is completely exaggerating. He's tall, that's it. I also find it funny that "purple and gold" forgot to leave out the line about being the next Disagana Diop. Must not have copied and pasted the whole article.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 22, 2006 at 01:36 PM
emman
True. Bynum is a kid. He's also one of the few tradeable assets on the team. Keeping him for the future is a luxury. Kobe's not growing, he's peaking. The rub is in weighing Bynum's upside against Kobe's legs.
It's fun to talk now, but Mitch will do what Mitch said, nothing. Bynum will get a chance to show next year. If he doesn't show well, he may not be valueable trade bait either. He sure will make summer league more interesting.
The Kwam is our Miliicic. If he can earn his lunch money, Baby B will be safe to earn while he learns from the best.
Posted by: Vman | May 22, 2006 at 01:41 PM
Luke just did a radio interview and he said that he hadn't heard what the media was saying about Kobe because he was out of town and turn everything off, but when people started asking him, he could not believe it. He said that anyone who knows Kobe personally knows that Kobe would never quit on his team or on them. That he was outraged by those comments, that Kobe would never do that.
Posted by: lakofan | May 22, 2006 at 01:42 PM
purple and gold,
On another note, I think the Lakers should have picked a more developed player who could have helped right away. Danny Granger comes to mind. Who knows, another athletic swingman on this team and we could be talking about game 7 of the Battle of LA.
I like Bynum, I should make that clear. i think he has great potential, but I don't think he'll ever be a guy we build this team around. he could be an important piece, no doubt, but that's five or six years down the road. That being said, if he could get us a player who could impact our immediate success, I'd pull the trigger on a deal right away. I think these playoffs have shown how wide open this league is right now and one player and a couple bounces can mean a lot.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 22, 2006 at 01:44 PM
no didnt want to show it i was giving the kid props.
who other than stoudemire is really that atletic .none of them is that atletic.
guys do u just adore KG to much or did the kid hurt u in some way or some how.
he is a big bet but the bigger the bet the bigger the winnings and a lot of guys are praising him so why not the true lakers fan.
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 01:44 PM
Lamar Odom is over 6'9" and very athletic.
Posted by: Rubin | May 22, 2006 at 01:47 PM
GTG guys but was cheking that draft site and i found boozer as another guy who u would not guessed would be a star and guess wat he is .so pray that he develops rather then find reasons why he doesnt.
AK u need to post the kareem interview again but on a more serious note the frontcourt and brown bynum are very talkked about why not a thread about them.
Posted by: purple and gold | May 22, 2006 at 01:51 PM
Congratulations Jon.
Since you never shut up about how LeBron is great (which he is, no doubt) here in Lakerland, which is Kobe country, just as Miami is D-Wade's crib or how Houston is the land of the Vince Young. Now your name is LeJon James. Get used to it LeJon.
Oh, you hate Kobe? Fine then. Just hate everything here in your home. Hate Reggie Bush. Hate Matt Leinhart. I bet you do hate them in your heart. Lemme also say you love Paris Hilton the whore. Fine by me. You many not have post it here but I do know that you really do. And one last thing LeJon, Kobe here right now is Reggie Bush and LeBron is Vince Young. While I like Vince's all around game and body size, which is just like LeBron is the NBA, I'd rather have the electrifying Reggie Bush, which is Kobe YES Kobe, anyday.
So will the real LeJon James Please Shut UP!? Please Shut Up?! Please Shut up?!
-The Album of The Real Slim Shady.
Posted by: arthas (Tom Brady) | May 22, 2006 at 01:57 PM
purple and gold,
howard came into the league about 11months older than bynum that's a fact. He was 18yrs10months in 2004 october, was 19yrs10months in 2005 october, and will be 20yrs10months in 2006 october. He won't be 21 until this december.
Like I said granted Bynum came into the league a year younger than Howard was in his rookie year. And yes he might later turn into a great player, just curious as to what he's done now to merit the hype. As of October this year, Bynum will be 18yrs11month, which makes him about a month older than Howard was as of that time in his rookie season, plus Bynum has had the benefit of 1yr of nba under his belt. Have we seen anything from Bynum to hope that he can even give us Howard's rookies number.
That's all I'm asking. The more people rave about this kid when he hasn't produced at all. The less they'll look into other options such as the D-League that might benefit him.
And as for Jermaine O Neal and Darko...let's not forget they both got a change of envinroment before producing. i.e. once a team get's used to your ass being on the bench, it most likely will stay there. I don't want Bynum to be a bust and I don't want him to be another teams treasure. I just think too much praise is being heaped on him and yet too little is being asked of him.
My hope is that he gets enough playing time either with the lakers or the d-league team they bought, so he can truly be measured and evaluated. As oppposed to getting a B grade from AK, for what? Kareem having high hopes for his student, Mitch seeing promise in his draft pick? Come on now, what else would you expect Mitch and Kareem to say on their investment.
Posted by: Taliq | May 22, 2006 at 01:58 PM
Most of the laker players would be cut in training camp and should have been. Andrew bynum he is going to be a special player in this league if he had gone to the ncaa this year the lakers would not have gotten this steal. His season highlight was dunking on shaq. Igive him a C because of the a amount ofd action. yes he played well in the minutes but he did not play enough to show me that he had a great rookie year. Look for bynum to back up brown next season and for mihm to back up odom in the power forward position. Andrew needs to work with kobe, kareen, and phil this summer.
Posted by: Aaron Patrzykont | May 22, 2006 at 01:58 PM